スズメバチが花にとまった。
August 17, 2007 8:37 AM Subscribe
Asian Giant Hornets in action. Asian Giant Hornets on the palm of your hand. Asian Giant Hornet vs Mantis. Asian Giant Hornet vs Asian Giant Hornet.
Well, this certainly solves my "what nightmare should I have tonight" conundrum.
Also what FofB said.
posted by tommasz at 8:43 AM on August 17, 2007 [3 favorites]
Also what FofB said.
posted by tommasz at 8:43 AM on August 17, 2007 [3 favorites]
HOLY AWESOME GETTING MY BONG OUT RIGHT NOW
THANKS
posted by poppo at 8:43 AM on August 17, 2007 [1 favorite]
THANKS
posted by poppo at 8:43 AM on August 17, 2007 [1 favorite]
OMG they're just maiming those poor little honeybees and tossing their limp bodies down to the ground below
posted by poppo at 8:44 AM on August 17, 2007
posted by poppo at 8:44 AM on August 17, 2007
I'ma cut off your head, eat yo honey and feed yo larva to my grubs, Gaijin mothafucka!
I'm having a very hard time suspending disbelief now for this kind of pap. But, imagining all Seinfeld taken out by one of those hornets is pretty satisfying
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 8:49 AM on August 17, 2007 [1 favorite]
I'm having a very hard time suspending disbelief now for this kind of pap. But, imagining all Seinfeld taken out by one of those hornets is pretty satisfying
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 8:49 AM on August 17, 2007 [1 favorite]
I'ma cut off your head
At about 3:11 in the 2nd link, this actually happens in slow motion.
posted by poppo at 8:52 AM on August 17, 2007
At about 3:11 in the 2nd link, this actually happens in slow motion.
posted by poppo at 8:52 AM on August 17, 2007
ricky2356 (1 day ago)
he got jumped lol
Salvus967 (1 week ago)
that was one hell of a fight at the end. victory for one.. horrible, horrible defeat for the other
lightnings4life (1 week ago)
lolz looks like the hornets are getting laid
bestamerica (2 weeks ago)
wow hornet kill hornet..i did not know that
ShadenGheist (2 weeks ago)
Hornets SUCK!!!
Ah, YouTube comments. I love universal literacy.
posted by nasreddin at 8:54 AM on August 17, 2007
Holy crap. I'm not all that sure that 7 1/2 birdshot would take those fuckers out. It's time for double-ought buck!
Of course, that means you can only take a couple out at a time if you're lucky, and another one will sneak up on you from behind and chomp your head off
posted by illiad at 9:00 AM on August 17, 2007
Of course, that means you can only take a couple out at a time if you're lucky, and another one will sneak up on you from behind and chomp your head off
posted by illiad at 9:00 AM on August 17, 2007
Sting
The stinger of the Asian giant hornet is about a quarter-inch (6 mm) in length, and injects an especially potent venom that contains, like many bee and wasp venoms, a cytolytic peptide (specifically, a mastoparan) that can damage tissue by stimulating phospholipase action,[1] in addition to its own intrinsic phospholipase.[2] Masato Ono, an entomologist at Tamagawa University near Tokyo, described the sensation as feeling "like a hot nail being driven into my leg."[3].
If a person is stung by the giant hornet and is allergic, he or she may die from a reaction to the venom, as with any strong allergic reaction; however, there is also a neurotoxin, called mandaratoxin,[4] which may potentially be lethal in a large enough dose (relative to body weight of the victim). About 70 people die each year in Japan after being stung by giant hornets.[5]
A few interesting notes on Vespa mandarinia's venom and stinger:
* The venom contains at least eight distinct chemicals, some of which damage tissue, some of which cause pain, and at least one which has an odor that attracts more hornets to the victim.
* The venom contains 5% acetylcholine, a greater concentration than is present in bee or other wasp venoms. Acetylcholine stimulates the pain nerve fibres, intensifying the pain of the sting.
* Vespa mandarinia uses its large crushing mandibles, rather than its sting, to kill prey.
* The venom of the Asian giant hornet is more toxic than that of most other bees or wasps, giving this species one of the greatest lethal capacities per colony.
* The enzyme in the venom is so strong that it can dissolve human tissue
* Like all hornets, V. mandarinia possesses a barbless stinger, allowing it to sting repeatedly.
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:25 AM on August 17, 2007
The stinger of the Asian giant hornet is about a quarter-inch (6 mm) in length, and injects an especially potent venom that contains, like many bee and wasp venoms, a cytolytic peptide (specifically, a mastoparan) that can damage tissue by stimulating phospholipase action,[1] in addition to its own intrinsic phospholipase.[2] Masato Ono, an entomologist at Tamagawa University near Tokyo, described the sensation as feeling "like a hot nail being driven into my leg."[3].
If a person is stung by the giant hornet and is allergic, he or she may die from a reaction to the venom, as with any strong allergic reaction; however, there is also a neurotoxin, called mandaratoxin,[4] which may potentially be lethal in a large enough dose (relative to body weight of the victim). About 70 people die each year in Japan after being stung by giant hornets.[5]
A few interesting notes on Vespa mandarinia's venom and stinger:
* The venom contains at least eight distinct chemicals, some of which damage tissue, some of which cause pain, and at least one which has an odor that attracts more hornets to the victim.
* The venom contains 5% acetylcholine, a greater concentration than is present in bee or other wasp venoms. Acetylcholine stimulates the pain nerve fibres, intensifying the pain of the sting.
* Vespa mandarinia uses its large crushing mandibles, rather than its sting, to kill prey.
* The venom of the Asian giant hornet is more toxic than that of most other bees or wasps, giving this species one of the greatest lethal capacities per colony.
* The enzyme in the venom is so strong that it can dissolve human tissue
* Like all hornets, V. mandarinia possesses a barbless stinger, allowing it to sting repeatedly.
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:25 AM on August 17, 2007
Wow, that was a pretty nasty fight between the hornet and the mantis. I didn't expect that to play out the way it did.
Speaking of; I miss my mantis, she was sweet.
In that, alien, I'm going to spear you through the neck and slowly chew off your face, kind of way.
posted by quin at 9:26 AM on August 17, 2007
Speaking of; I miss my mantis, she was sweet.
In that, alien, I'm going to spear you through the neck and slowly chew off your face, kind of way.
posted by quin at 9:26 AM on August 17, 2007
Previously here..., though this one has a lot more hornet pron... Amazing critters.
posted by Pantengliopoli at 9:28 AM on August 17, 2007
posted by Pantengliopoli at 9:28 AM on August 17, 2007
Given my already overblown fear of stinging bugs, this post essentially embodies my worst nightmare. Thanks, guys. If you ever see me posting late at night, you'll know it's because the haunting image of ginormous hornets has once again prevented me from a restful night's sleep.
posted by Help, I can't stop talking! at 9:29 AM on August 17, 2007
posted by Help, I can't stop talking! at 9:29 AM on August 17, 2007
This is like the 300 except in reverse and with bees and hornets.
Bzzzz.... Immortals,we put their name to the test. ....bzzzzzz
Bzzzz.... Ooops. Guess they are.
posted by srboisvert at 9:31 AM on August 17, 2007 [1 favorite]
Bzzzz.... Immortals,we put their name to the test. ....bzzzzzz
Bzzzz.... Ooops. Guess they are.
posted by srboisvert at 9:31 AM on August 17, 2007 [1 favorite]
Previously here..., though this one has a lot more hornet pron... Amazing critters.
Dead link in that one.
* The venom contains at least eight distinct chemicals, some of which damage tissue, some of which cause pain, and at least one which has an odor that attracts more hornets to the victim.
Oh god, that's awesome. My brother informs me that something like 70 people die in Tokyo every year from Asian Giant Hornet stings.
I'ma cut off your head...
They do love to do that, don't they? It's crazy, they seem to be able to find the head on anything they fight. Even in the mantis vid...hell, I couldn't even tell which side was the head at first.
posted by voltairemodern at 9:35 AM on August 17, 2007
Dead link in that one.
* The venom contains at least eight distinct chemicals, some of which damage tissue, some of which cause pain, and at least one which has an odor that attracts more hornets to the victim.
Oh god, that's awesome. My brother informs me that something like 70 people die in Tokyo every year from Asian Giant Hornet stings.
I'ma cut off your head...
They do love to do that, don't they? It's crazy, they seem to be able to find the head on anything they fight. Even in the mantis vid...hell, I couldn't even tell which side was the head at first.
posted by voltairemodern at 9:35 AM on August 17, 2007
Far and away the coolest link to come out of the other hornet Mefi is this one:
Bee-Hornet BBQ
posted by Pantengliopoli at 9:41 AM on August 17, 2007
Bee-Hornet BBQ
posted by Pantengliopoli at 9:41 AM on August 17, 2007
I bet that thing sounds like a blackhawk helicopter as it zeros in and then stabs you in the neck with its ass javelin.
posted by The Straightener at 9:41 AM on August 17, 2007 [2 favorites]
posted by The Straightener at 9:41 AM on August 17, 2007 [2 favorites]
Why Bugs Are Not Huge: "Unlike animals with backbones, like us, insects deliver oxygen to their tissues directly and bloodlessly through a network of dead-end tracheal tubes. In bigger insects, this mode of oxygen transport becomes less efficient, but no one has been exactly sure why."
Somehow those giant hornets didn't hear about the inefficiency thing. Yikes. Cool post though.
posted by nickyskye at 10:02 AM on August 17, 2007
Somehow those giant hornets didn't hear about the inefficiency thing. Yikes. Cool post though.
posted by nickyskye at 10:02 AM on August 17, 2007
If there really is a god, then these hornets and Clock Spider will eliminate each other in a burst of frenzied ultraviolence.
posted by Dipsomaniac at 10:08 AM on August 17, 2007
posted by Dipsomaniac at 10:08 AM on August 17, 2007
Actually, that's Asian Giant Hornets on the palm of somebody else's hand...and that's just fine by me.
posted by darksasami at 10:09 AM on August 17, 2007
posted by darksasami at 10:09 AM on August 17, 2007
Notably, the Green Hornet had an Asian sidekick. Giant hornets the result of their union?
posted by klangklangston at 10:12 AM on August 17, 2007
posted by klangklangston at 10:12 AM on August 17, 2007
I'm sure this is a well-crafted post. I'm convinced all the links are to substantial and authoratitive sites concerning the GIANT ASIAN HORNETS or interesting videos of the GIANT ASIAN HORNETS . I believe you, I really do. My compliments on the effort that went into this post. GIANT ASIAN HORNETS are probably a significant part of the wonderful web of life, and I'm sure they serve a useful purpose on this planet and are a small part of the creator's grand design.
But there's no way in hell I'm clicking on any of those links.
posted by marxchivist at 10:17 AM on August 17, 2007 [3 favorites]
But there's no way in hell I'm clicking on any of those links.
posted by marxchivist at 10:17 AM on August 17, 2007 [3 favorites]
I find it telling that the acronym of their name is GAH, because it seems to be a pretty apt description,
GAH! What the hell is that?
GAH! It's flying right at me!
GAH! It's boring a hole into by brain to lay eggs!
posted by quin at 10:35 AM on August 17, 2007 [2 favorites]
GAH! What the hell is that?
GAH! It's flying right at me!
GAH! It's boring a hole into by brain to lay eggs!
posted by quin at 10:35 AM on August 17, 2007 [2 favorites]
I was calmed when the first "palm of your hand link" showed what looked like a dead bug on someone's hand - I figure that dead it would hurt you no more than a thumbtack laying there. But the second one ... that thing's alive.
posted by TheOnlyCoolTim at 10:36 AM on August 17, 2007
posted by TheOnlyCoolTim at 10:36 AM on August 17, 2007
Nature is the worst. The fucking worst. *shudder*
/goes to pour motor oil down the drain
posted by Riki tiki at 10:48 AM on August 17, 2007
/goes to pour motor oil down the drain
posted by Riki tiki at 10:48 AM on August 17, 2007
Well, maybe that's what the thing is that I found (thankfully dead!) in my driveway about two weeks ago. Size is comparable to that in the palm photo.
My photos: here. and here.
posted by blaneyphoto at 10:49 AM on August 17, 2007
My photos: here. and here.
posted by blaneyphoto at 10:49 AM on August 17, 2007
blaneyphoto: IANAE, but some wikipediing makes me think that's a Cicada killer.
posted by Riki tiki at 10:59 AM on August 17, 2007
posted by Riki tiki at 10:59 AM on August 17, 2007
Riki tiki - that looks like a definite possibility. Thanks for the link. Sounds like they're alot less dangerous... unless you're a Cicada, I guess!
posted by blaneyphoto at 11:03 AM on August 17, 2007
posted by blaneyphoto at 11:03 AM on August 17, 2007
Dr. Abe, however, had to meet extraordinary hardships for the sake of his selection. "I was often stung by hornets because, not being an expert, I began collecting them without adequate preparation. At one time, I was stung on the face by a hornet. In 30 minutes, my blood pressure went down rapidly, and I became paralyzed, although I remained conscious. My pupils dilated. My sight was fogged by halation when I tried to look at bright areas. It was indeed a beautiful world (joke). It was then that I formed a serious desire to conduct research into hornet poison. I learned firsthand that hornet poison is nothing less than astonishing."
In the meantime, Dr. Abe succeeded in discovering a hornet neurotoxin, mandaratoxin, in 1981, thus making good progress in his research. However, he needed more hornets for his research activities.
posted by Huplescat at 11:10 AM on August 17, 2007
In the meantime, Dr. Abe succeeded in discovering a hornet neurotoxin, mandaratoxin, in 1981, thus making good progress in his research. However, he needed more hornets for his research activities.
posted by Huplescat at 11:10 AM on August 17, 2007
Why don't the bees attack the hornets 100 at a time? It looks like they just go one at a time, like in a bad movie horror. Bees need some attack-organization skills
posted by dov3 at 11:48 AM on August 17, 2007
posted by dov3 at 11:48 AM on August 17, 2007
I hate you! Everywhere I look, out of the corner of my eye I see flying things. And I can feel them on me! I will get you back for this!
posted by KingoftheWhales at 12:20 PM on August 17, 2007
posted by KingoftheWhales at 12:20 PM on August 17, 2007
Isn't nature wonderful?
/ off to submit this to Cute Overload
posted by The Card Cheat at 12:21 PM on August 17, 2007
/ off to submit this to Cute Overload
posted by The Card Cheat at 12:21 PM on August 17, 2007
Shhh, should we tell KotW about the huge wasp sitting on his shoulder? I mean, jesus, look at the size of that thing...
posted by quin at 12:25 PM on August 17, 2007
posted by quin at 12:25 PM on August 17, 2007
Appearently the Japanese honey bees have a tactic for dealing with them.
When a hornet scout locates a Japanese honey bee hive and approaches the nest, the scout will emit specific pheromonal hunting signals. When the honey bees detect these pheromones, a hundred or so will gather near the entrance of the nest and keep it open, apparently to draw the hornet further into the hive or allow it to enter on its own. As the hornet enters the nest, a large mob of about five hundred honey bees surround the hornet, completely covering it and preventing it from moving, and begin quickly vibrating their flight muscles. This has the effect of raising the temperature of the honey bee mass to 47 °C (117 °F). Though the honey bees can narrowly tolerate such a temperature, it is fatal to the intruder, which can handle a maximum temperature of about 45 °C (113 °F), and is effectively baked to death by the large mass of vibrating bees. Often several bees perish along with the intruder in this way, sacrificing themselves for the survival of the colony, as the death of the hornet scout will prevent it from bringing reinforcements which would almost certainly obliterate the colony.
posted by hellphish at 12:33 PM on August 17, 2007
When a hornet scout locates a Japanese honey bee hive and approaches the nest, the scout will emit specific pheromonal hunting signals. When the honey bees detect these pheromones, a hundred or so will gather near the entrance of the nest and keep it open, apparently to draw the hornet further into the hive or allow it to enter on its own. As the hornet enters the nest, a large mob of about five hundred honey bees surround the hornet, completely covering it and preventing it from moving, and begin quickly vibrating their flight muscles. This has the effect of raising the temperature of the honey bee mass to 47 °C (117 °F). Though the honey bees can narrowly tolerate such a temperature, it is fatal to the intruder, which can handle a maximum temperature of about 45 °C (113 °F), and is effectively baked to death by the large mass of vibrating bees. Often several bees perish along with the intruder in this way, sacrificing themselves for the survival of the colony, as the death of the hornet scout will prevent it from bringing reinforcements which would almost certainly obliterate the colony.
posted by hellphish at 12:33 PM on August 17, 2007
Reading the wikipedia on their biology... apparently they bring back the bee larvae to feed to their young, which in turn secrete fluid that the adult hornets feed off of. I find this pretty creepy, which in turn makes it supremely cool.
I've known about the Asian Giant Hornet since I was a kid, as my Pa's a beekeeper. Don't have to worry about them in the US, as far as I know. It makes me wonder at the behavior that native Japanese honey bees have developed. Pretty impressive.
I was also suddenly reminded of those giant mechanical bees in the introduction for Mega Man X. I can't help but wonder if I was mistaken as to their biological inspiration.
posted by Mister Cheese at 12:41 PM on August 17, 2007
I've known about the Asian Giant Hornet since I was a kid, as my Pa's a beekeeper. Don't have to worry about them in the US, as far as I know. It makes me wonder at the behavior that native Japanese honey bees have developed. Pretty impressive.
I was also suddenly reminded of those giant mechanical bees in the introduction for Mega Man X. I can't help but wonder if I was mistaken as to their biological inspiration.
posted by Mister Cheese at 12:41 PM on August 17, 2007
Global Warming, Right Wing Supreme Court, Giant Hornets, I can't stand it.
posted by Cranberry at 12:46 PM on August 17, 2007
posted by Cranberry at 12:46 PM on August 17, 2007
Who in their right mind creates a thing like this unless they're just trying to say "fuck you" to the rest of nature. I think this either proves God does not exist, or He is not sane. Stinger + Toxins + Flying + Swarming + Huge = My Worst Nightmare.
posted by JibberJabber at 1:26 PM on August 17, 2007
posted by JibberJabber at 1:26 PM on August 17, 2007
Appearently the Japanese honey bees have a tactic for dealing with them.
There's actually footage of a Japanese bee hive enacting this tactic at the end of the first video -- around 4:25 or so. I have no idea how they filmed it...
posted by voltairemodern at 1:35 PM on August 17, 2007
There's actually footage of a Japanese bee hive enacting this tactic at the end of the first video -- around 4:25 or so. I have no idea how they filmed it...
posted by voltairemodern at 1:35 PM on August 17, 2007
hellphish, thanks for the find.
Can bees sting the honet?
posted by dov3 at 1:55 PM on August 17, 2007
Can bees sting the honet?
posted by dov3 at 1:55 PM on August 17, 2007
Can bees sting the honet?
They can, but apparently their venom isn't strong enough to stop a hornet. Though I think the video mentioned that they managed to kill a couple of the hornets in total -- I guess enough stings finally killed them.
posted by voltairemodern at 2:20 PM on August 17, 2007
They can, but apparently their venom isn't strong enough to stop a hornet. Though I think the video mentioned that they managed to kill a couple of the hornets in total -- I guess enough stings finally killed them.
posted by voltairemodern at 2:20 PM on August 17, 2007
When I was a kid my dad called me out to see something in the back yard where he had been enjoying a roast beef sandwich. He was sitting at a picnic table and this hornet/wasp (??) kept flying around him. He took a piece of beef and set it on the table. The thing landed on it and proceeded to cut it up into bits with it's mouth parts. It picked up a few bits and ate them then picked up the rest and flew off. For the rest of the summer one or two wasps would come have lunch with us when ever we were out there. It was the weirdest thing, always the same. They had very nice manners with the cutting it all up and then eating.
I must say I am very glad it was not one of these Asian guys, they probably would just punch you in the face and take the whole sandwich.
posted by Belle O'Cosity at 4:48 PM on August 17, 2007
I must say I am very glad it was not one of these Asian guys, they probably would just punch you in the face and take the whole sandwich.
posted by Belle O'Cosity at 4:48 PM on August 17, 2007
Or steal your car.
Hey I'm from Europe, we have small cars.
posted by Catfry at 5:36 PM on August 17, 2007
Hey I'm from Europe, we have small cars.
posted by Catfry at 5:36 PM on August 17, 2007
No one else has mentioned that the way the Japanese honeybees kill the hornets is by surrounding them and vibrating their own bodies to raise their body temperature sufficiently to cook the hornet alive?
WHAT.
posted by shakespeherian at 7:10 PM on August 17, 2007
WHAT.
posted by shakespeherian at 7:10 PM on August 17, 2007
These honeybees... they vibrate.
posted by koeselitz at 7:29 PM on August 17, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by koeselitz at 7:29 PM on August 17, 2007 [1 favorite]
apparently they bring back the bee larvae to feed to their young, which in turn secrete fluid that the adult hornets feed off of
Baby poop.
posted by five fresh fish at 7:42 PM on August 17, 2007
Baby poop.
posted by five fresh fish at 7:42 PM on August 17, 2007
Terrifying. I have already begun practicing vibrating my body, just in case it one day falls to me to help cook one of these bastards.
posted by washburn at 9:20 PM on August 17, 2007 [2 favorites]
posted by washburn at 9:20 PM on August 17, 2007 [2 favorites]
fawk! i should know better than to look at this stuff right before i go to bed. now it feels like things are crawling on me.
posted by spish at 10:07 PM on August 17, 2007
posted by spish at 10:07 PM on August 17, 2007
Things are undoubtedly crawling upon you. Not GAHs, obviously, or you'd have been streaking out the door, but crawly little things nonetheless, inhabiting you as if you were a planet.
Sleep tight, don't let the bedbugs bite!
posted by five fresh fish at 10:58 PM on August 17, 2007
Sleep tight, don't let the bedbugs bite!
posted by five fresh fish at 10:58 PM on August 17, 2007
I, for one welcome our... oh wait, no, I don't.
posted by louche mustachio at 11:04 PM on August 17, 2007
posted by louche mustachio at 11:04 PM on August 17, 2007
Funny how the eyes look exactly like Mothra. Some things start to make sense.
posted by Ironmouth at 8:40 AM on August 18, 2007
posted by Ironmouth at 8:40 AM on August 18, 2007
No one else has mentioned...
A couple people, actually. It's at the end of the first video. Pretty neat.
posted by voltairemodern at 11:44 AM on August 18, 2007
A couple people, actually. It's at the end of the first video. Pretty neat.
posted by voltairemodern at 11:44 AM on August 18, 2007
I have eaten bigger bugs than that.
Cool post though, those guys are worse than tarantula hawks
posted by Iron Rat at 12:38 PM on August 18, 2007
Cool post though, those guys are worse than tarantula hawks
posted by Iron Rat at 12:38 PM on August 18, 2007
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